Home Page

Job Stress and On-site Office Massage Therapy Program.

Job stress costs theU.S. economy more than $200 billion annually through diminished productivity, compensation claims, absenteeism, health insurance and direct medical expenses. Today, many businesses (especially corporate offices), employ massage therapists on-site. Many studies indicate that on-site office massage therapy programs improve and increase productivity levels of workers, as well as decrease sick days, and keeps workers happy by improving mood.

Here are some facts about Job Stress from
The American Institute of Stress: http://www.stress.org/job.htm

- 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful;

- Job stress is more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family problems;

- 25% have felt like screaming or shouting because of job stress, 10% are concerned about an individual at work they fear could become violent;

- 62% routinely find that they end the day with work-related neck pain, 44% reported stressed-out eyes, 38% complained of hurting hands and 34% reported difficulty in sleeping because they were too stressed-out;

- According to a survey of 800,000 workers in over 300 companies, the number of employees calling in sick because of stress tripled from 1996 to 2000;

- Stress keeps about one million people a day from going to work
- Unanticipated absenteeism is estimated to cost American companies… $3.5 million on a daily basis ;

On-Site Massage Quotes from AMTA
http://www.amtamassage.org/about/demand01.html

“An increasing number of corporations, small businesses and municipalities have found on-site massage to be a low-cost benefit with high payoff”.

“The Investor Relations Group, Inc., of New York , offers each of its 15 full-time and part- time employees a weekly 15-minute massage, because it makes a difference in retention and employee morale”.

“Among organization benefits managers, 8% report that massage is an employee benefit”.

“At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strain and fatigue fell since the companies started bringing in massage therapists”.

“By including 15 minutes of free massage therapy once each week, the Calvert Group, an investment firm in Bethesda, MD, reduced its turnover rate to 5% in an industry where the norm is 20%”.

With statistics like these, it is clear why many companies are investing in on-site massage treatments for their employees.

"A growing number of USA firms are curbing employee stress by offering free or low-cost massage right at the office."
- USA Today

As you begin to sell your services to employers and companies, be sure to remind them of the following facts:

- Chair massage can improve the quality of the workplace resulting in increased productivity, commitment and drive.

- Businesses can have a happier and healthier work force; one which includes a peaceful environment where employees can feel energized, recharged, happy and appreciated through their workday.

- Employees will be more dedicated to the company as they will feel prized as a result of their employer’s caring gift of massage.

- Employees that receive massage work as part of a corporate wellness program feel less
stressed, and are less likely to take unplanned time off from work.

- Massage provided in the workplace promotes overall well-being, and will reduce healthcare costs and sick days.

- Reducing anxiety and aggression by promoting relaxation will result in more energy and concentration, which yields better quality of work.

-The great effects of massage in the workplace contribute to the welfare & success of the entire company.

- Massage lowers tension and pain, and will yield happier, more relaxed workers.

- Less fatigue means clearer minds, more creativity and better problem solving in the workforce.

In Summary:

As you can see chair massage shouldn't be viewed as a cosmetic "feels good" procedure but as an effort in stress management. No doubt, most of us carry stress in a form of higher resting tonus within cervical and upper back muscles.   Soft tissue mobilization on these regions will help to reduce many side effects related to stress. (We are referring you to the explanation on physiological effects). However, I strongly believe that incorporation of extremities' massage, can additionally contribute to the stress management effort. (I'm referring you to read on the importance of lower extremities massage that can be found in hypertension chapter, as well as in the full body medical massage chapter). Giving the fact that a special chair is not always available I'll propose techniques of chair massage without a special chair. Please keep in mind that all proposed techniques could be performed in a special chair.

Massage Steps:

1.)   Place client's forehead on therapist's upper abdominal area. Make sure to place a folded towel and/or pillow between the client's forehead and the therapist's body.

2.)   The therapist places their palms on the client's cranium and hooks the tips of all of their fingers around the occipital ridge, gradually applying pressure (acupressure) around cranium for thirty seconds.

3.)   The therapist places the heel of their hand or thumbs on top of client's upper trapezius, and under pressure, the therapist massages the client's upper- top trapezius muscles. 

4.)   Bilaterally compress neck between tips of the figures and     by  increasing pressure in several motion  perform a massage on each lateral side of  neck. be alert an not to  massage, carotid artery.

5.)   The therapist uses their fist or elbow and massages (in a circular motion) all areas of the client's upper back.

6.)   Place client's arm behind their back.  With one hand support client's shoulder joint and with other hand massage under client's scapula region.

7.)   Using slow horizontal strokes, mobilize all back muscles of client with the heel of hand in cross muscle layer action.